Fence row construction devices



M- UROSHEVICH Nov. 12, L968 FENCE ROW CONSTRUCTION DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 H K a M o H m w 0 w m N V A L 5 m \& 4\-MI vI w M r ni .0 s Q g w wmwww ww w ..%%W v 00 00 00000 00000 v00 0000 0 0 0 0 0 A & 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 03 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 \0 0000000 000000 000 000000000 0 0 000000 000000. 0000 0 000000 00 0 \0 000 000000 000000! 000000 00 M N0N m v WMMW WHQVN NQMWVM w "0? vw0w0n0n wOwkvw0w0m0n0w0w0n0uu v\ 1 Q\ m m w mm m kN N PM Filed Oct.

ATTORNE.

Nov. 12, 1968 M. UROSHEVICH FENCE ROW CONSTRUCTION DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 13, 1966 vsw TOR Arrom/ E'Y MIROSLAV UROSHEVICH Nov. 12, 1968 M. UROSHEVICH FENCE ROW CONSTRUCTION DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 15, 1966 VEN TOR MIROSLAVUROSHEVICH ATTORNEY Nov. 12, 1968 M. UROSHEVICH FENCE ROW CONSTRUCTION DEVICES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 13, 1966 United States Patent 3,410,527 FENCE ROW CONSTRUCTION DEVICES Miroslav Uroshevich, 2230 Kroger Bldg, 1014 Vine St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Filed Oct. 13, 1966, Ser. No. 586,454 8 Claims. (Cl. 25632) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure relates to a wire mesh fence comprising vertical end and intermediate posts, horizontal rails extending between the posts and a wire fabric having its upper edge connected to the horizontal rails and its opposite ends connected to the end posts. The intermediate posts are of sectional construction consisting of two halves split longitudinally and located on opposite sides of the wire mesh fabric and in clamping engagement with the fabric for supporting it, with caps inserted on the upper ends of the half posts to secure the two sections together.

The upper edge of the wire mesh is supported by means of spring clamps which are interwoven with the wire mesh, the spring clamps being generally U-shaped in cross section, with the upper ends slidably joined to the rails at spaced points between the intermediate and end posts. The opposite ends of the rails, which join the vertical posts, are provided with universal joints at opposite ends connected with mating universal joints secured to the posts. The universal joints permit the rails to be swung at various angles within a spherical sector in relating to the posts. In addition the ends of the posts include a slidable connector joined to the universal joint permitting the rails to be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the posts during erection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In erecting wire mesh fence having steel posts and rails, the posts necessarily must be set accurately on center, the spacing of the posts being dictated by the length of the horizontal rails which may be pre-cut. The wire mesh fabric also must be out either in the manufacturing plant or in the field to inter-fit the vertical posts, the ends of the wire mesh being secured to the vertical posts at opposite sides. Moreover, the upper edge of the wire mesh conventionally is exposed to weather and if unprotected may corrode after a prolonged period of time.

According to the present invention, the slidable connections between the rails and posts make it unnecessary for the posts to be set precisely on centers, the longitudinally split or sectional intermediate posts make it unnecessary to splice the wire fabric at each post; instead, an uninterrupted length of wire fabric may have its opposite ends anchored to the end or corner posts allowing the fabric to be clamped at spaced intervals by the half posts which engage the fabric on opposite sides, thus delineating the intermediate splices.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction and erection of wire mesh fabric structures used as fences and other structures for barricades around a certain area of ground.

The conventional method of erecting wire fabric fences requires that the fabric be secured to each vertical post. Where top and botom rails are provided it is necessary to secure the fabric to the top and bottom rails at spaced intervals by means of wire and or bolted clips which leave the bottom and top edges of the fabric exposed and un protected. My invention eliminates the use of bolts and nuts since the connecting means on the parts that are interconnected have self contained clamping means.

Another disadvantage to the present constructions in use is the rigidity of rail connections to and between intervening posts which must be specially made or fitted 3,41%,527 Patented Nov. 12, 1968 during erection of the fence. Numerous parts are required and many bolts and nuts together with clips are required in the connections between posts, rails and the wire mesh.

It is an object of my invention to provide a boltless universal flexible joint as a connecting means between posts and rails of a fence.

Another object of my invention is to provide a boltless universal joint connection between posts and rails that permits the tilting of the rails and wire fabric to bring them in line with the contour of the ground displaced at an angle from a level plane.

A further object of my invention is to provide a boltless universal joint connector that permits the location of a top rail up and down or horizontally at acute or obtuse angles to a post.

Another object of my invention is to provide terminal or end posts whereby wire mesh fabric is attached to the posts by a strand of the fabric without special fasteners and stretched to desired tension between the posts.

Another object of my invention is to provide intermediate posts that clamp and hold the wire mesh fabric in vertical position without the use of tie members or screws and bolts.

Primarily it is an object of my invention to provide a fence constructed of minimum number of standardized parts that are self-adjusting to expansion and contraction due to temperature changes and can be used universally on level as well as rolling terrain without the necessity of modifying the parts comprising the construction and also permit the top rails, as well as the wire mesh fabric, to be secured at variable angles simultaneously, horizontally and vertically within a spherical sector in relation to posts supporting the top rails as determined by a common center pivot.

These and other objects will become apparent from the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention together with the specifications describing in detail the certain parts of my fence construction.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of my fence showing the fence following the ground from a level plane and continuing downward at the same angle as the ground.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of my line post without a cap.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of my gate or end post without a cap.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of an intermediate post without a cap.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a corner post with four side wings in full lines when the post is used to enclose four separate areas.

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of my corner post.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical elevation of my line post showing how wire fencing can be secured within the post.

FIGURE 8 is an isometric view of a fragment of one form of top rail.

FIGURE 9 is an isometric view of a fragment of another type of top rail.

FIGURE 10 is an isometric view of a spring clip for securing the wire fencing to and within the top rail.

FIGURE 11 is a front elevation showing a fragment of the fencing and end post assembled together.

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of the end post and rails shown at different angles as assembled by my universal joint.

FIGURE 13 is a fragment of a post and rail in elevati'on showing the top rail at an angle to the post.

FIGURE 14 is a diagram showing the various angles that a top rail can be positioned in relation to a post.

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view of a corner post and a fragment of a top rail with a snap ring universal joint.

FIGURE 16 is a front elevation of a post together with a fragment of a top rail showing the possible angular placement of a top rail in relation to a post with the use of a snap ring universal joint.

FIGURE 17 is an elevation. of part of a bottom of a line post using a hinge to connect two halves of a line post.

FIGURE 18 is a top plan view of the fence row shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated a fence row 1 erected on level ground 2 and terminating downwardly to conform to the slope of hill 3. End and or corner posts 4 (to be explained) are secured in concrete 5 to hold them securely erect in the ground. The end or corner posts for four w-ay fence rows extending from each of the four sides of the posts have elongated wings 6 secured on them. When fence rows extend from only two sides at right angles to each other the Wings on opposite side are omitted from the posts. Within the wings there are multiple spaced slots 7 through which a strand of wire mesh 8 is woven to secure the mesh to the posts. Spaced between the end posts there are line posts 9 (to be explained) through which the wire mesh extends and the wire mesh is held securely in a vertical plane by clamping action of the halves of the line posts.

The line posts consist of two halves 10 and 11. The half post 10 is longer than the half post 11 and is secured in the concrete in the ground. Secured on the inside of the half post 10 there is an offset bar 12 to form a slot 13 for an end 14 of an S-shaped hook member 15 (FIG- URE 7) for removably securing it in the slot 13 without the use of bolts or screws. The offset bar may be fixed to the half post 10 or it may be removably secured thereto by bolts and nuts to accomodate spacers between the bar and an inner side of the half post 10. The S- shaped hook membed 15 is fixidly secured to an inner side 16 of the half post 11 and is the means for holding the two halves of the post in a fixed position in relation to each other. The S-shaped member is of sufficient length to hold the two half posts spaced from each other to form a vertical slot 23 in which the wire mesh is securely clamped when the half post 11 is in vertical position adjacent to the half post 10. At an upper end 24 of the post there is an enlarged slot 25 in which ends of a top rail 26 are slidably and rotatably retained to accomodate the angular variance of the top rail in the vertical and horizontal planes in relation to the ground level. See FIGURE 14. The slidable and rotatable retention of the top rail in the slot permits expansion and contraction of the top rail due to temperature changes and eliminates stress on the line and end posts. A removable hollow cap 27 has circumferential inner slot 28 that frictionally engages and fits down on the top of the two halves of the post and keeps them together in fixed relation to each other. A shoulder 29 within the cap limits the distance that the cap can be slid down onto the top of the post halves.

Referring to Figure 17 there is illustrated an alternate means for joining the two halves of the post together. A hinge 17 with one ear 18 is secured at a point 19 on ground level of the half post 10 and another ear 20 is secured at a bottom end 21 corresponding to ground level of the half post 11. A pivot 22 of the hinge permits the post half 11 to be rotated downward and away from the post half 10.

Referring to FIGURES 6, 11 and 12, the end post has slots 30 for slidably retaining a tongue 31 on an eyed bolt 32 that has a tappered slot 33 for a tappered wedge 34. When the wedge is forced into the slot in the eye bolt the eye bolt will be retained on the end post. Another eye bolt 35 is rotably connected to the eye bolt 32 and together they form a swivel joint that allows the top rail and fence line to radiate at acute and obtuse angles in relation to the end post without the necescsity of I modifying or changing the parts involved in the assembly. The eye bolt 35 is secured and fixed in a hollow terminal spring cap 36 with depending sides that are adapted to flex and thereby resiliently clasp and become remowably secured on and about the ends of the top rail and integral with the top rail to hold the top rail in place. The top rail illustrated in alternate form in FIG- U-RES 8 and 9 is a hollow U-shaped rail with resilient sides 37 adapted for pressure contact on inner surfaces 38 of the terminal spring cap 36. Bottom ends 39 of the terminal spring cap have inwardly curved hook members 40 that grip around the botom edges 41 of the top rail and hold it from moving downward and out of the terminal spring cap. Extending lengthwise of the top rail there are slots 42 adapted to receive serations 43 on a split hollow spring clip 44 (FIGURE 11). The spring clips are spaced along the top rail and after inserting the wire in them they are snapped around the bottom edge of the top rail where they are retained on the top rail by the serations being held in the slots on the top rail.

Referring to FIGURES 15 and 16, there is illustrated an alternate form of a universal joint. It comprises a semi circular snap ring 45 terminating in shaft ends 46 that are rotatable in bearing holes 47 in the tops of the end posts. These snap rings are adapted to swivel up and down and be held at an angle to the end post in any position within an arc of one hundred and ten degrees taken from the center of the bearing holes.

The snap rings are loosely retained in a rectangular opening 48 in another form of terminal spring cap 49 that is removably secured to the top rail. The loose retention of the snap ring in the terminal spring cap permits the positioning of the top rail within a horizontal arc of one hundred and ninety degrees in relation to the center of the post thereby permiting the ready alignment .of the top rail with the obtuse or acute an es formed by the boundry lines of a lot of ground being fenced in while at the same time the top rail can be alined with the slope of the ground by reason of the up and down swiveling of the snap ring.

My fence is erected by setting end or corner posts and halves of the line posts spaced between the end posts in concrete below and up to the level of the ground. Wire mesh is secured to the end or corner posts by weaving the mesh into the slots in the wings on the end posts. The mesh is drawn taut and in a vertical position so that it is flat against the erect half posts. The top rail in sections between the posts is placed over the top of the wire mesh and the wire mesh is secured to the top rail by the serated spring clips. The universal joints are then secured to the end posts. The other halves of the line posts are then secured to the first halves by the S-shaped member. When the two halves of the line posts are erect and in alignment the caps are forced down on the top ends of the posts. These caps hold the halves of the line posts in fixed position to each other and clamp and hold the wire mesh in place and from sagging. With my construction the parts for a fence row are relatively few. The rails are slidably retained in the line posts and are free to move with the expansion and contraction due to the temperature changes thereby eliminating buckling of the rails and also the strain on both end and line posts.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A wire mesh fence row comprising capped end posts, intermediate line posts and transverse rails in combination with Wire mesh fabric interposed between said end posts and intermediate line posts;

the upper edge portion of said wire mesh fabric being slidably retained in said top rails by means of spring clips;

said spring clips being interwoven in the upper edge of said wire mesh fabric and slidably connected to said rails;

an end of said top rail being joined to one end post by means of a universal joint;

the other end of said rail being slidable and being free to swivel upwardly, downwardly and sidewisely,

each of said intermediate line posts being of sectional construction longitudinally and comprising two half posts;

said half posts being disposed on opposite sides of said wire mesh;

and cap means engaging the upper end portion of said half posts to secure the same together, thereby to hold said wire mesh fabric in clamped vertical position in said fence row.

2. A wire mesh fence row as in claim 1 wherein said universal swivel joint comprises a snap rin-g adapted to position said top rails simultaneously at obtuse and acute angles in horizontal and vertical planes relative to said end and line posts.

3. A Wire mesh fence row as in claim 1 having a multiple of line posts spaced between said end posts and ends of said rails are slidable and swivable within slots in the tops of said line posts to adapt said fence row with an irregular boundary line.

4. A wire mesh fence row as in claim 1 wherein said end and line posts are positioned at different levels on a hilly terrain and said rails adapted to span between said line posts to conform to the contour of the terrain and self adjustable within said line posts without modifying the connecting means between end and line posts.

5. A wire mesh fence row as in claim 1 wherein said end and line posts are positioned at different levels on a. hilly terrain and said fence row line is at acute or obtuse angles up or down and sidewise, said rails adapted to span between said line posts to conform to the contour of the terrain and to simultaneously be self adjustably positioned at obtuse or acute angles up and sidewise to each post in said fence line without modifying the connecting means between the posts.

6. A wire mesh fence row as in claim 1 wherein said top rails are adapted to be positioned down and sidewise at any angle relative to said end post and within a spherical sector having a common center point in relation to a swivel connector for said rails.

7. A wire mesh fence row as in claim 1 wherein said rails are slidably secured in said line posts adapted to be positioned at any angle relative to said post and within a spherical sector having a common center point in relation to said posts and said rails adapted to slide within slots on said post by reason of expansion and contraction of the said rails.

8. A wire mesh fence row comprising capped end posts, intermediate line posts and transverse rails in combination with Wire mesh fabric interposed between said end posts and intermediate line posts;

the upper edge portion of said wire mesh fabric being slidably retained in said top rails by means of spring clips;

said spring clips being interwoven in the upper edge of said wire mesh fabric and slidably connected to said rails;

an end of said top rail being joined to one end post by means of a universal joint;

a tongue projecting from the universal joint and through the wall of the end post and having a slot formed at the inner end of the tongue;

a wedge passing through the slot in said tongue and engaging the inner wall of said end post and securing said universal joint in said end post;

the other end of said rail being slidable and being free to swivel upwardly, downwardly and sidewisely;

each of said intermediate posts being of sectional construction longitudinally and comprising two half posts;

said half posts being disposed on opposite sides of said wire mesh;

hinge means disposed at the lower end of said half posts connecting the same together to clamp said wire mesh substantially at ground level;

and cap means engaging the upper end portion of said half posts to secure the same together, thereby to hold said wire mesh fabric in clamped vertical position in said fence row, with the half posts clamped by said hinge means at the lower end of the half posts and by the cap means at the upper end portion of the half posts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,061,097 5/1913 McGill 256-47 1,318,326 10/1919 Kmiecinski 256-49 1,582,574 4/1926 Carlson 25654 2,826,394 3/1958 Pinson 256-65 X 3,021,114 2/1962 OConnell 256-24 FOREIGN PATENTS 393,697 6/ 1933 Great Britain. 471,766 9/ 1937 Great Britain.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Assistant Examiner. 

